The Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) confirmed that Gerard Martin should have been sent off, ruling that VAR was wrong to downgrade his red card to a yellow.
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The decision sparked anger from the Atlético camp, now justified by the committee’s review.
Speaking on Tiempo de Revisión, officials said referee Mateo Busquets Ferrer’s original call was correct, as Martin’s challenge on Thiago Almada amounted to serious foul play despite making slight contact with the ball.
"The fact of touching the ball first does not cancel out subsequently incurring in imprudent, reckless or rough play. It is serious rough play regardless of who touches the ball first. The correct disciplinary sanction should be a red card," the ruling stated.